Abstract

In order to evaluate residual stress distributions in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) due to weld-overlay cladding and post-weld heat-treatment (PWHT), thermal-elastic-plastic-creep analysis considering the changes of material properties in heat-affected zone (HAZ) has been performed. By considering the material property changes in HAZ, stress distributions obtained from the analysis agree well with the experimental results measured from weld-overlay cladded plate. Applying the analysis method, residual stress distributions for a vessel model caused by weld-overlay cladding, PWHT, hydrostatic test, operational load and transient loads during pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events have been computed. Effects of the residual stresses on the structural integrity of RPVs have been evaluated by comparing the difference in stress distributions and the values of stress intensity factor for a postulated crack during PTS events.

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